Head of Medical Services Matt Connery sacked by Everton

MATT CONNERY has been sacked as Head of Medical Services by Everton after 17 years at the club.

Connery joined the Toffees as senior physio in October 2001 from Port Vale. He was promoted to his current role in February 2015 following a medical revamp instigated by then-manager Roberto Martinez.

The man he replaced in the role at that time - Danny Donachie - has now returned to the club in the new role of Head of Therapy Services. Donachie, the son of former Manchester City player Willie, had been Head of Medical and Sport Science at Aston Villa since November 2016.

Meanwhile, Bruno Mendes, who set up the highly-respected Benfica Lab in 2006, has joined from the Portuguese club as Everton's new Head of Performance.

Mendes had been at Benfica for 15 years and replaces Ryland Morgans, who was sacked in June after just six months in post.

It means Everton go into the new season with an almost completely revamped set-up. In the last two months the club has appointed a new chief executive (Denise Barrett-Baxendale), Deputy Chairman (Keith Harris), Director of Football (Marcel Brands), Head Coach (Marco Silva), assistants and Performance Director.